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THE NOBLE BEREANS

By Cornelius R. Stam

Many Christian groups and organizations call themselves
Bereans, but it is surprising how few people know what a
true Berean is.  
     
The 17th chapter of Acts relates how Paul called upon his
kinsmen at Thessalonica and for three sabbath days "rea-
soned with them out of the Scriptures," trying to show them
that Jesus was the Christ.
         
Steeped in their own religion, however, the majority were
unwilling even to consider the truths Paul proclaimed. In-
deed, they resented the fact that some did believe and, in
their bigotry, "set all the city on an uproar." Finally Paul’s
life was in such peril that the Christians there sent him
away by night to Berea, a town about forty miles away.
         
At Berea Paul again sought out his "kinsmen according
to the flesh" -- and what a different reception! Here is what
the record says:
         
"THESE WERE MORE NOBLE THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO" (Acts 17:11).
         
These people did not immediately close their eyes to fur-
ther light. On the contrary, they gave Paul an interested
hearing, listening with open minds to what he had to say.
But they were not gullible either for, having listened to
Paul, they subjected his word to God’s Word, searching the
Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so. For
this God called them "noble." They were the true spiritual
aristocracy of their day.
         
We should all be Bereans, spiritually big enough to listen
with open minds to the teachings of men, and then big
enough too to subject their teachings to the Word of God,
the Bible, to see for ourselves whether these things are so.
Our Lord said: "Search the Scriptures... for... they... testify
of Me" (John 5:39). As we do this we will find eternal
life -- and more -- in Christ.

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